Mississippi doctor avoids jail time in $515 million health care fraud scheme

A Mississippi doctor, Dr. Gregory Auzenne, has avoided jail time after pleading guilty to federal misdemeanor charges in relation to his involvement in a health care fraud scheme that prosecutors said cost insurers about $515 million. The 51-year-old from Meridian entered his guilty plea on Monday, admitting to charges related to his failure to disclose information concerning expensive prescription pain cream.

According to prosecutors, the health care fraud scheme that Dr. Gregory Auzenne was involved in began in Mississippi and caused in-state insurers approximately $515 million, with a nationwide cost of $1.5 billion. Auzenne was accused of contributing to around $18 million in fraud by signing preprinted prescription forms for medicines. He was among more than two dozen individuals charged in the case.

While Auzenne was acquitted on seven of eight counts against him in 2020, the jurors were unable to reach a consensus on the eighth count of making false statements. Initially scheduled to stand trial earlier this month, Auzenne changed his plea to guilty and will not be serving any jail time.

As reported by the Clarion Ledger, Auzenne was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay a $20,000 fine and $116,623 in restitution. “I realize I made mistakes in the past,” Auzenne said during his sentencing hearing. “I’m really sorry. I will work harder than ever to be a better person.”